We provide comprehensive legal services to our elder law clients.
The services we provide to our clients as part of our Elder Law practice include:
• Estate Planning - to structure property ownership, and draft wills and trusts of all types to effectively use and transfer family assets and achieve maximum tax savings for larger estates
• Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives - to plan for smooth transition of control over financial affairs and medical care in the event of incapacity, including HIPAA privacy provisions
• Long Term Care Planning - helping seniors and their families plan for and obtain nursing home or home-based medical care for chronic illnesses, including planning for Medicaid eligibility for nursing home
• Retirement Account Planning – developing customized beneficiary designations to ensure passage of retirement accounts to desired recipients with minimum tax consequences
• Public Benefits Counseling - planning to obtain or maintain eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan), SSI and Veterans’ benefits for which the client may be eligible
• Guardianships and Conservatorships - to legally permit third party care and supervision of a child’s or incapacitated adult's affairs
• Elder Abuse Advocacy - advice and advocacy for seniors who may be subjects of physical or financial abuse or neglect
• Nursing Home Rights Counseling – for residents and their families to understand their legal rights and obligations for nursing home care

As a Certified Elder Law Attorney, Richard Courtney has the ability to recognize your various needs, discuss your objectives, and design an integrated plan for meeting them.

What is a Certified Elder Law Attorney?


The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to grant certification in Elder Law – the CELA designation. For such certification, NELF requires the attorney to show significant continuing education in elder law and substantial case experience over the five years prior to examination in the following areas, and successfully complete an examination establishing proficiency across thirteen areas of legal services which include:

• Health and personal care planning (Medicare/medical powers of attorney/health care directives)
• Estate planning (property ownership, wills and trusts for disposition of personal and business assets)
• Fiduciary representation (advising guardians, conservators, probate executors and administrators, and trustees in trust matters)
• Legal capacity counseling (powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships for future or current disability)
• Public benefits advice (Medicaid, Social Security and SSI programs, Veterans’ benefits)
• Retirement accounts planning and advice
• Tax-related advice, including income, gift and estate tax issues
• Housing counseling, including HUD and other subsidized housing
• Advice and advocacy pertaining to insurance matters
• Nursing home rights and responsibilities
• Employment discrimination for older adults
• Age and disability discrimination